Charlotte.com

March 29, 2011

Newton creates split opinions

It's going to be a fun month.

The possibility, or likelihood, that the Panthers could draft Auburn QB Cam Newton has already made him a lightning rod, creating pre-draft conversations the likes of which have never taken place here.

But no member of the media has taken him down quite like Pro Football Weekly's Nolan Nawrocki, who wrote that Newton was "very disingenuous," with an "enormous ego," and "does not command respect from teammates and will always struggle to win a locker room."

Not every scouting report is so shrill.

Rob Rang at cbssports.com opens his scouting report of Newton with a more even tone. "Despite the big media splash over Newton's comments last month about wanting to be an 'icon and entertainer,' I have no doubt that Newton is much more grounded than people think," Rang wrote.

Either way, the conversation will last another 30 days, and perhaps for years beyond.

Comments

This guy from Pro Football Weekly's Nolan Nawrocki, where is he getting his facts from. Looks to me like he is making up as he goes along. Why does he hate Cam so much, or begrudge him from being the number one pick? Nolan I am sure barely knows the Cam. Is Nolan just jealous, what does he know about a football looker room, doesnt he know winners always get respect until they prove otherwise

Posted by: Haile | Mar 29, 2011 8:31:33 AM

The analysis and opinions of QB Cam Newton will be extensive the upcoming weeks. I saw this thorough breakdown posted by Dave Hyde on his weekly installment of Draft Winds. The analysis of QB Cam Newton was actually completed by Chris Kouffman and Simon Clancy.

Very interesting analysis. If you have some free time checkout the link:

Haile - I'm guessing the hatred is because Nolan Nawrocki is an Alabama grad.

I am an unapologetic Auburn shill. I loved what Cam did last year and will remember that magical run to the national title for the rest of my days. But I still don't think we should draft him.

I just don't understand why everyone gave the O-line a free pass last year and blamed every evil under the sun on Jimmy Clausen. Never in the history of the sport of football, on any level, has an offensive line been as awful as ours. Jordan Gross making the 2011 Pro Bowl makes being a Pro Bowler a complete farce for the rest of eternity. The groundhog in PA can pass block better than Gross did last year. Same can be said of Wharton, Kalil, Bernardeau and Schwartz. Alvin & the chipmunks would have made a better line. Yet all anyone talks about is how rotten Clausen was. How is a QB supposed to produce anything when, by the time he takes one step back from center, there are already 5 defenders in the backfield?

Bottom line: WE NEED INTERIOR LINE HELP FAR MORE THAN WE NEED A QB!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Take Fairley #1. Use the rest of the 2011 draft getting interior line help, and maybe another receiver. Bet that there will be no season, which means we would have the top pick in 2012 as well. Take Andrew Luck #1 in 2012, and get some more receivers and some depth for the defensive backfield. Then let Luck and Clausen fight it out in training camp.

J,
While our line did not play up to expectations, they were not the worst ever or even the worst this year. I like clausen and believe he should get another chance but he has to get rid of the ball quicker. No o line can block for ever. An oline that was great for the last couple of years doesn't turn horrible overnite with only one change in personnel. Let Otah get healthy and see how much better oline can be.

Posted by: Shawn | Mar 29, 2011 9:49:09 AM

J, you crack me up....Alvin and the Chipmunks and Groundhog Phil on the Oline.
While they didn't play well, there were a few issues. And I do agree with you, Gross making the Pro Bowl was a sham. He was coming back from an injury last year, so may not have been 100%. Otah was a big loss. Kalil wasn't as effective with the weaker right side. If we get Otah back, and can get a RG to plug that hole, I think the line will be fine. Not so sure about Claussin.
While I'm not sold on Newton(just a gut feeling), sounds like Gabbert's side has paid him to trash Newton. Not so sure about Fairley with the shoulder issue, maybe a safer pick is the Alabama DT, or just take AJ Green and be done with it. Petterson is worthy of a high pick as well, regardless what the "book" tells you to do.
Of all the years to have #1 overall, this doesn't look to be the year to have it.

Posted by: DaveT | Mar 29, 2011 10:10:39 AM

wc
thanks for the link. after watching the videos, this guy newton is a rare talent. he effortlessly makes plays in any circumstance. the cats must take him #1. if there is risk, take it. dare to be great.

Posted by: dadadnit | Mar 29, 2011 10:23:43 AM

Seriously, like him or not, all the stuff about Newton is pure speculation. We wont and dont know until he is in a uniform and put to the test for a couple of seasons.

Buddy Nix of the Bills had an interesting comment - if you wait until you need a QB to draft one, you are too late. More attention should be paid to WHY our team is in the position it is in right now than who the candidates for draft are.

Posted by: manu4t | Mar 29, 2011 10:25:15 AM

Come on Arizona!!! Your gonna miss out on a top QB in this draft....please trade us your pick....

Posted by: Scott Silverstein | Mar 29, 2011 10:43:18 AM

I don't think otah coming back is going to solve the o-line problems. I think there are several problems on the o-line. Shotty play combined with a coaching staff that really had major problems adjusting the blocking scheme for opposing defenses. As for otah, he is good when he is healthy and playing, but we should be extremely worried when a player can't come back and play a single snap from minor knee scooping procedure. Players routinely take 2-3 months to recover from this procedure and for him to never set foot on the field at all from this is a serious red flag. Know to the article at hand I think that selecting newton is not a wise decision. There are to many concerns and unknowns to take that risk. A bust with this pick can severely cripple a franchise that is barely keeping their head above water now. They need to pick a player right that can contribute immediately whether that pick is an offensive or defensive player they need to help the team right away and newton is not that player. As a matter of fact none of the qbs in this draft are that player.

Posted by: mike | Mar 29, 2011 10:52:51 AM

If the Panthers can keep up the Cam Hype I would sure like to see us somehow trade down for the 3rd pick with the Bills and acquire Fitzpatrick. That way, we get a young Vet at QB and chose a DL with our first pick...It's a longshot, at best...

Posted by: kidzplay9 | Mar 29, 2011 10:55:47 AM

Current players can't be traded for pick until a new cba is done. If Carolina can trade down with the Bills or Cardinals( who are very interested in Gabbert) I take that deal. You get their 1st, early 2nd, and a 2012 1st rounder from the Cardinals.

Posted by: mark J | Mar 29, 2011 12:09:19 PM

you can trade players you just can't make it formal until the cba. get ready for the words future considerations being used draft day.

Posted by: joe cool | Mar 29, 2011 12:29:17 PM

you can trade players you just can't make it formal until the cba. get ready for the words future considerations being used draft day.

Posted by: joe cool | Mar 29, 2011 12:29:17 PM

From what I understand the "future considerations" idea has been shot down by NFL owners. They still have conditional picks but as far as I have heard the future considerations thing is a no go. I have been on the draft Newton bandwagon for a while now. If the new CBA was going to be similar to the old one I might not be all about Newton but all indications are that there will be a rookie cap. Assuming this is the case the Panthers will have a much smaller investment in Newton than in previous QBs. I think the Panthers should take a chance on Newton & try for the homerun. Playing it safe is what got them into their current situation as the worst team in football.

Posted by: Smiley | Mar 29, 2011 1:36:24 PM

From what I understand the "future considerations" idea has been shot down by NFL owners. They still have conditional picks but as far as I have heard the future considerations thing is a no go. I have been on the draft Newton bandwagon for a while now. If the new CBA was going to be similar to the old one I might not be all about Newton but all indications are that there will be a rookie cap. Assuming this is the case the Panthers will have a much smaller investment in Newton than in previous QBs. I think the Panthers should take a chance on Newton & try for the homerun. Playing it safe is what got them into their current situation as the worst team in football.

Posted by: Smiley | Mar 29, 2011 1:36:24 PM

Nobody is going to trade for the number 1 pick. They have to give up too much.

Cam is a proven winner, but his skills will only take him so far when he is playing against the big boys.

The o-line will be better when the defense does not know the playcalling. I see a formation from the upper deck of the endzone and you know who the Panthers want to go to. Jeff Davidson would call run-run-run-kick on one possession,then pass-pass-draw play-kick on the next, then run-run-run-kick

Posted by: Nosebleed fan | Mar 29, 2011 2:10:57 PM

mark J: What planet are you on? Next years 1st and a 2nd to trade up 4 position?

It is not like Luck is availble...

Posted by: Thorrez | Mar 29, 2011 2:35:35 PM

they dude need to step urp and they maybe otay. not sure if newton is they guy and panthers dont need no dagon VY.... Smitty and a VY type be bangin no slangin fo stank.

Posted by: Stankonya | Mar 29, 2011 3:31:16 PM

they dude need to step urp and they maybe otay. not sure if newton is they guy and panthers dont need no dagon VY.... Smitty and a VY type be bangin no slangin fo stank.

Posted by: Stankonya | Mar 29, 2011 3:31:16 PM

I believe like SC Ken that not all the blame should be placed on Clausen.With no offensive line to back him up and just Smith and maybe one other receiver to catch the ball.I don't know if even Namath,or Farve in their prime could have done much better.Trade the draft pick down get more help on the line and some receivers then you can blame Clausen if he still doesn't improve.Give him a chance to succeed.

Posted by: alan | Mar 29, 2011 4:07:25 PM

All that complaining last year about the QB play (complaining the last 3 years)and now a chance to draft a possible franchise QB and you guys want to draft a D player. This is not about wheather clauson is a good QB or not, this is about drafting a QB who could be a highlight player. Now having said that nothing is guaranteed. but if we pass and this guy turns out to be what a lot of people think he will be, all of you anti-newton guys out there will be on suicide watch. In this case if I'm wrong, I'd rather be wrong on Newtons side than the other way around. i'M JUST SAYING!

Posted by: Ken | Mar 29, 2011 4:12:14 PM

The Panthers lack the imagination to draft Cam Newton. All this talk about his ego and his being scripted (What in the hell does that mean? And when did THAT become a draft consideration?) is just an attempt before-the-fact to justify taking someone else (who can probably be taken at number 1 more cheaply). Is the goal to take someone at number 1 with a SMALL ego? Someone more spontaneous?

Posted by: JOSEPH MCNULTY | Mar 29, 2011 4:47:58 PM

Drafting a player, any player, is a chance. Everything we do in life is a chance. All we can do is evaluate our choice and make a decision. I find in life that people who never make bad decisions always leave it up to others to make the decisions and then stand back and critize their decision when it turned out wrong. Do you think that the colts knew that Payton was a shoe in to be sucessful. Look at the ones who were not drafted in the first round or not drafted at all who became star players and hall of fame players. no one who refuse to take a chance has ever been sucessful. So step up, take a chance draft Cam and regraless how it turns out, take some pride that you at least were willing to step out and take a chance to be sucessful rather than sitting back and complaining about people who had the guts to do so.

Posted by: Ken | Mar 29, 2011 5:10:56 PM

Newton is Jamarcus Russell all over again. He has never taken a snap in the NFL, not even in camp and people are calling him a "proven winner".
Trade down, if anyone will take it and offer decent value. There is no great value at the number one slot this year. A first and a third will give the Panthers two starters, unless upstairs has a brain seizure.